iReport is an open-source client application that allows you to connect to a JasperReports Server, create reports, and save them in different formats. The report designer has drag-and-drop capabilities and an intuitive visual interface that makes it easy to create reports containing various charts, tables, and graphs.

iReport is developed by the JasperSoft community, an open-source project that provides a server and client suite for creating reports in various formats.

What does the iReport include?

The iReport Development Tool consists of three main components: iReport Designer, JasperReports, and Jasper Server. iReport Designer is a visual report design tool that allows you to create reports using a drag-and-drop interface. It includes wizards and templates to help you get started quickly and tools for advanced users.

The JasperReports library powers it has the underlying engine and is a comprehensive Java reporting library. It enables reporting applications to access data from various sources, such as JDBC/ODBC databases and XML files, to generate dynamic content. JasperServer is an open-source application server that supports deploying iReports applications and managing JasperReport instances.

What is the interface?

The iReport interface is fully dockable and configurable. Users can customize the layout of their workspace to suit their needs, thanks to a tool palette that provides quick access to frequently used elements from the main toolbar. Using a reporting inspector, users can view the objects in an entire workspace or select one particular object and see its properties. They also can edit properties directly in source code editor windows.

What is the report life cycle?

iReport is a Java-based report design tool that allows you to create reports using drag-and-drop or point-and-click. It includes wizards and templates to help you get started quickly and tools for advanced users. The following is an example of the Report Life Cycle in iReport:

• You design a report using the iReport Designer tool. At this step, you create a JRXML file, an XML document containing the definition of your report.

• The report is then compiled into a Java class file, which is saved to an output directory within your project.

• You run an application server to deploy your app, including any reports that are part of it. You can export the report as an XML document or PDF, CSV, DOCX, RTF, and other formats.

Conclusions

iReport is an excellent tool for creating reports in Java. It has a simple interface, making it easy to learn and use, though it may take some time to get used to it. You can even create your own custom report layouts using the Designer tool. The software contains many features, including advanced data visualization and exporting the report as PDF, CSV, or DOCX.